Dear Santa,
Listen up you jolly fat old elf. I know it must suck to be you on most days. What with the rising price of feed for the Rudolph and gang. On top of all the letters, now you have cell phones, text messages, email...you name it. And then there's the whining, crying, snot nosed kids peeing on your lap from 9 to 5 in crowded department stores, all the time their Mother's are yelling for you to hurry up so they don't miss the latest sale at Walmart. But, hey...you signed up for this gig, so let's get a couple of things out of the way. Is it sooooooo much to ask for you to hook a sista up? I mean really, you know where all the handsome, single men live. Look at your list! You know who's been naughty or nice. You have their addresses.
So, I'll make you a little deal. I'll hang a stocking and all I want you to do is to put a couple of names in there. That's it, no Barbie, no Coach purses, no Hummer. Just names and addresses. And good guys this time, no ankle bracelets please.
I've been pretty good this year. I think I deserve at least this. If you can do this for me, I promise I won't leave milk and cookies, but a very nice Pinot Noir and some smoked salmon en crute...Deal?
I'm waiting patiently,
Winehrh
PS....Thanks for the pony!

1. You won't be illegal in the car pool lane anymore.
2. I'll let you push me on the swings
3. I'll lick the envelope for you
4. I always stop to pet dogs outside the grocery store
5. I never speed in school zones
6. I promise not to warm my feet on your back.
7. I'll let you taste what I'm cooking
8. I'm really good at picking wine
9. I'll watch your movie first
10. I'm magically delicious
11. I've never been on America's Most Wanted
12. Most mothers love me
13. I know more about cars than I should
14. I'll always go to a baseball game and drink beer
15. I'll never drink your last beer
16. I know the difference between there, their and they're
17. I know how many licks it takes to get to the center of the tootsie pop
18. I'll take care of you when you're sick
19. I will out-fish you 75% of the time
20. You will almost always win at golf
21. I recycle
22. I smell really good
23. I'll be really quiet when you are sleeping
24. I've never been a houseguest of O.J. or Michael Jackson
25. I've never watched American Idol
26. I didn't vote for either George Bush
27. I don't litter
28. I don't have any overdue library books
29. I pump my own gas
30. I never put my fingers in light sockets
31. When I run with scissors, I always have the pointy ends out
32. I'll try not to swear in front of your Mom
33. I'll pretend not to notice when you look at that girl with the big boobs
34. I'm pretty damn funny
35. I never know where Waldo is
36. I've never lip synced on SNL
37. I've had all my shots
38. I know objects in the mirror are larger than they appear
39. I never tear the tag off the mattress
40. I may have already won $10,000,000
41. I've never been on Jerry Springer
42. I don't watch Oprah
43. My bisquits and gravy will change your life
44. I snort when I laugh really hard
45. I'll never borrow your razor
46. I give really good massages
47. You're getting really tired of this list

There apparently is a cultural phenomenon known as "Seinfeld moments", where something you do or somewhere you go triggers a memory of a Seinfeld episode. For instance, I was standing at the coffee counter at Dean and Deluca, I looked down and there was a loaf of Chocolate Babka. The woman in front of me saw it at the same time and we both started laughing...Seinfeld!
Ever had a Seinfeld moment?

I'm headed to Napa in the morning. Spending a little time in wine country with my new boss and chefs. We've got a couple of fabulous wine tours planned, dinners at The French Laundry and Bouchon. And my Red Sox are up 3 games to ZERO! This is starting to feel like home.
Have I mentioned that I want to marry Manny, Pedroia or Jacoby? And by marry I mean....

A conversation this morning prompted this question. What are your favorite movie lines and why?
A couple of mine are: Marlon Brando from "On the Waterfront"..."I coulda been a contender, I coulda been somebody"
Olympia Dukakis from Steel Magnolias.."The only thing that separates us from the animals is our ability to accessorize."
Bill Murray in Caddyshack.."Cinderella story, outta nowhere, former greenskeeper, now about to be the Masters Champion. It looks like a miracle, it's in the hole! it's in the hole!"

All roads lead to Oregon, or at least in my case they do. After 30+ years in Alaska, I'm heading home. I just accepted a new job in Bend, Oregon and am leaving Alaska. It's a fantastic job and I'll be closer to family, not to mention the fact that I won't have to spend the winter here. Always a bonus.
A part of me is torn about leaving this very special place and my friends that have been my surrogate family over the years. I shall miss "The Last Frontier" and all the things that make it special.
Oh, and did I mention...I finally got my pony, dammit. She's waiting for me in Oregon! Along with all those great wines!

Juneau, Alaska
Meet Romeo, a lone black wolf, that lives in a recreational area on the outskirts of Juneau. This area is frequented by lots of people hiking, walking their dogs and generally just enjoying the outdoors. Romeo has been there for some time and has lost fear of both man and animal. He has been known to try and "play" with both humans and fellow canines. Last Saturday, apparently Romeo decided he was tired of being alone.....so he grabbed a friend

Tiff poured 2 glasses of champagne as they had some time before arriving at the back of theater, thinking 'yeah, this may not be my first rodeo, but is sure is my last'. Handing Jake his glass she stared out the tinted windows, lost in thought until she heard his glass hit the floor of the limo. Yes, it worked just like he said it would, one little pink pill in the glass, lost in all those bubbles. Jake's chin rested on his chest, his breathing was deep and regular. Tiff reached up and dropped the privacy glass between her and Ricco. "We've got 30 minutes to get to the airstrip, the G-4 is fueled and ready to go" She reached in her faux Fendi, retrieving a short black wig and a fake passport. Amazing how much she looked like Jake's wife with just a few adjustments. As she made her transformation, she laughed..Ricco's brother, Tony was amazing. A man of many talents, forger, pharmacist and pilot...Eventually she would have to choose between the two.

It's done! For the past several months I have been studying to take my Certified Sommeliers exam through the Court of Master Sommeliers. It's been a great way to spend my whole summer since I destroyed my rotator cuff, thus putting an end to any fun stuff, like golf.
Anyway, I traveled to Seattle this week and took the test on Wednesday and voila...I passed. It truly was one of the most nerve racking experiences of my life. Alternating between passing out and vomiting, I managed to ease the cork out of a very stubborn bottle of Cava, pour 8 glasses (shaking like a leaf) and answer most of the Master's questions somewhat intelligently. Of course, this is after the blind tasting and written theory exams. Now I have a year and a half waiting to take the next level! I should calm down by then, Somebody pass me the chardonnay....
In Vino Veritas!!